Refugee News/Advocacy
Top 5 Ways to Protect Refugees & Rebuild U.S. Resettlement Program
An unprecedented 68 million people, including 25 million refugees, have been forced from their homes around the world. This is the worst refugee crisis in history.
Learn more: http://www.rcusa.org/
Refugees who we promised to protect are still awaiting safety, and families have been separated for years because of these drastic reductions.
#WhereRtheRefugees?
Additional information can be found here: http://www.rcusa.org/advocate-now/
Take Action to Protect Immigrant Children
Currently, administrative regulations are in jeopardy of being changed so that immigrant children and families could be indefinitely detained. The proposal would curtail minimum standards for how to care for children held in federal custody. It is a critical time to make our voices heard to oppose this proposal by the administration and to urge Congress to reject any proposal that fuels family separation and family incarceration.
Here are the top 3 ways to take action today:
Click here to register your opposition to the administration's proposal and stand up for immigrant children's safety.
Click here to join today's digital day of action to help drive public comments opposing the Trump administration's proposed regulations. Follow the conversation with the hashtag #StopFamilyDetention.
Click here to tell Congress to oppose the expansion of family incarceration and reject the administration's proposal to indefinitely detain children.
Please check out StopFamilyDetention.org for more information. Please share this information widely.
Jen Smyers, Director of Policy & Advocacy, Immigration and Refugee Program, Church World Service
Refugee Support Center
The Refugee Support Center (RSC) is a 501(c)3, volunteer-based organization established to facilitate the transition of local North Carolina refugees to a new life in our community by providing them services, helping them access resources, and developing their skills to promote self-sufficiency. Annually RSC serves approximately 1000 refugees, primarily from Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Syria. Most of those served live in Orange County, but refugees from surrounding counties can seek assistance on a case-by-case basis.
Interpretation is available either by phone or in person. We have interpreters who speak Arabic, Burmese, French, Karen, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. Not all interpreters are available during all office hours, so calling for an appointment for Arabic or Swahili is advised.
The organization was founded in July 2012. It was the recipient of the 2016 NC Peace Prize. Flicka Bateman is the Director. More information: https://refugeesupportcenter.org/
Direct Service Opportunities:
- •Provide homework support and English practice to school age students in their homes
- •Tutor refugee adults for the citizenship exam
- •Tutor English to adults
- •Provide transportation for refugees to appointments and agencies
- •Be an office assistant to help refugee clients in the office for a variety of services
- •Serve as a mentor for one family in the phase between being newly arrived and achieving self-sufficiency
- •Teach the DMV manual to individuals or small groups who need to pass their Learner's Permit
A Note from the Director — August 22, 2021
The crisis in Afghanistan has unsettled and saddened us all. Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. as interpreters, engineers, security guards, embassy personnel, and cultural advisors (as a group called 'allies') remain in danger in Afghanistan. The fear is these courageous and loyal people will be abandoned to the Taliban.
Local resettlement agencies:
- Church World Service (CWS)
- Lutheran Services Carolinas
- US Committee on Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
- World Relief Durham
Flicka Bateman, Director, Refugee Support Center
School Supply Drive — August 8, 2021
We've had a tremendous outpouring of support for our school supply drive this year due to your generosity. Thank you. The collection's spectacular success has meant we're in the process of distributing supply-filled backpacks to 344 refugee kids from Afghanistan, Burma, Congo, Rwanda and Syria.
"No one has ever given us anything like this. Ever!"
"These are the nicest things I've ever had. I want to put my body in my backpack and live there because everything is so new and so good."
"Now I will do well in school. I am ready."
Flicka Bateman, Director, Refugee Support Center
Burmese Refugee Project
Beth El Congregation in Durham is a partner in an effort to support the family of a prominent Burmese human rights activist. The family has been under threat by the brutal military regime responsible for the coup in Myanmar. The U.S. State Department is working with individuals targeted by the military regime in Myanmar to provide support for their brave work and to protect those at risk by issuing a special visa under a process that is used only for extreme emergencies.
They will need permanent affordable housing beginning in October, and suggestions for housing are welcomed. Contact Beth El member Evelina Moulder for more information. [email protected]